AZTECS 180

ESSEX CARRIERS 177-8

(AZTECS WON)

Essex Carriers suffered a last-gasp defeat in this tight Reefers 90 League encounter with Hainault-based Aztecs.

The Hadleigh side got back into the game thanks to a 104-run stand from Steve Rogers (69) and Phil Blerkom (41) to give Carriers a realistic chance of beating their visitors' opening score.

Yet they could not clinch victory as brothers David and Gary Toplis failed to find the required eight runs off the final over, which would have sealed a Carriers triumph.

Aztecs' main inspiration was Afnan, who bowled 2-31 in support of his team mate Arif, who claimed 3-26.

Afnan had also shown his skill as a distinguished batsman in his side's opening innings as he top scored with 62, backed by Sanjay (24) and Amer (22), despite the bowling efforts of Carriers' Roley Watts, who took 3-11.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.